FRANCE-MONACO,(ST)_Speaker of the People’s Assembly [Parliament] has called for using parliamentary diplomacy to urge international and regional forces to dry up terrorism resources.
Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham’s call came during his meeting with Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) Senator Francesco Maria Amoruso on the sidelines of the 9th Plenary Session being held in Monaco in France.
Al-Lahham underscored the need for mobilizing parliamentary efforts to confront terrorism and extremism in Mediterranean area.
He indicated the importance of crystalizing legislations to stop the spread of terrorism and extremism and the recruitments of terrorists and sending them through borders to Syria and to other countries.
“All countries must abide by combatting terrorism which poses threat to the whole world,” al-Lahham said.
France denies entry visas to Syrian delegation
On the other hand, the Southern Geopolitical Group in the PAM unanimously denounced the French authority’s decision to deny entry visas to the Syrian delegation to take part in the Monaco session.
Al-Lahham, who arrived in Monaco with a previously-issued entry visa, considered this act as an attempt to silence the voice of the Syrian people and to prevent its parliament from speaking before Mediterranean area’s parliament members.
The PAM is due to discuss humanitarian impacts of the crisis in Syria, peace process in the Middle East region, the ongoing democratic reforms in the southern area of Mediterranean, climate change, human rights and protection of civilians.
The session will last until February 4.
Basma Qaddour